Automobile-horn.



P. C. BURNS.

AUTOMOBILE HORN- APPLICATION FIYLED MAR. 4, 1912.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- P. C. BURNS.

AUTOMOBILE HORN.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 4 19l2. 1,159,467.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

to the a.\'is of the diaphragm.

UNITE) TATE PATENT @FFICE.

PETER C. BURNS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN ELECTRIC COMPANY; OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-HORN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. a, 11915.

To all IUILO'IIL it may concern:

Be it known that I, PE'rnR C. BURNS. a citizen of the -United States. residing at Chicago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Auto]nobile-l-lorns of which the following is a full. clear. conelse. and exact description. reference being had to the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to horns and has for its particular object the provision of a new device of this character in which a diaphragm is operated by means of one or a plurality of impact devices. thereby to produce a loud sound through the agency of said diaphragm.

(ienerally speaking my improved device includes a diaphragm fixedly secured about its periphery which is associated with a suitable resonator or horn and in which 1 subject the diaphragm to a series of successive blows.

My invention concerns itself not only with a device of the character just outlined but also with new and improved mechanism for securing this rapid succession of blows to be given to the said diaphragm.

in carrying out one form of my invention I preferably mount an impact device rean wardly of the diaphragu'i in such a way that it may be symmetrically located with respect This impact device in the particular form of the device herein shown consists of a motor mounted rearwardly of the diaphragm whose armature carries the impact element or elements.

These and other features of myinvention will be more readily apparent from the construction which 1 will now describe in corn ncction with the accom nurving drawings illustrating one embodiment thereof. in which: V

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of my improved horn: Fig. 2 is an end view looking to the right (Fig. 1) with the cover plate removed: Fig. $13 is a longitudinal sectional view on line (zu. of Fig. and Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line b-J) of Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment of the horn illn trated herein. 1 utilize a resonator 1, which resonator is secured to a front plate 2. A diaphragm 3 cireumferentially engaging the front plate is laid within the cup shaped recess strips of packing 4 being interposed. A back cup Tris mounted in place as shown in Fig. 1, packing (3 being interposed and all of the elements 2, 3, 14., 5 and 6 are securely held together by means f the screws 7. This back cup liasa cover plate 8 suitably held in place by the screws 1). The diaphragm 3 has a central opening 10 over which a suitable cover plate 11 is riveted. This diaphragm by means of its vibrations causes the noise or sound en1anat ing from the resonator 1 as is well understood. ln order to cause the vibration of this dia1' l1ragni l strike it a series of blows and these blows in the embodiment herein shown are struck through the agency of balls 12. which balls are circumferentiall v mounted within a carrier '13. said carrier having recesses H to accommodate said balls and having a ring 15 preferably of brass slipped over the outer periphery of said carrier to hold said balls within the recesses. This plate 15 however has openings large enough to permit the balls to protrude sufficiently far so that centrifugal force may throw them outwardly a distance sutlicient to permit these balls to hit the diaphragm when this ring 13 is rotated. 1f the balls were to recede into their sockets they would normally not touch the diaphragm. This ring 13 carrying the balls is mounted upon an armature 16. which armature is carried by the shaft 17. This shaft 17 is mounted in bearings 18 and 19 suitably held in place in the side wall 20 of the back cup It will thus be seen that if this armature is rotated. centrifugal force will cause the balls 1:! to move'radially outward into position to hit the diaphragm 3. Each ball hits the diaphragm a short space in advance of the opening I and this ball then immediately leaves the diaphragm after having struck its blow and is accommodated by the recess 10 until it leaves the close proximity of the diaphragm. This opening 10 is cov ered by the cover plate 11 so as to make a moisture proof front covering for the oper ating parts. The armature 16 is in association with two field pieces 21 carrying the windings 22 and the side wall 20 of magnetic material forms the keeper for these pole pieces 21, 21. These pole pieces are re cessed at 2 as illustrated so that these pole pieces accommodate the protruding ball 'tudinal recess provided in these pole pieces.

carrying ring 13. It will thus be seen that the combination with a recessed diaphragm, the armature is mounted transversely of a resonator therefor, rotatable means for these pole pieces as herein shown and the striking said diaphragm at said recess a' ball carrying plate rotates within a longiplurality of successive glancing blows, and a motor having an armature for operating I am thus enabled to provide a symmetrical said means, said means being carried diarrangement of these impact devices with rectly by the body of said armature.

relation to the containing cup 5 and the 3. A motor having field pieces and an resonator 1. The armature is provided with armature, of an impact device carried by a suitable commutator 2a having the brushes said armature, and recesses provided in said '25, 25 to which current is supplied by means field pieces to accommodate said impact deof binding posts 26, '26, the field windings vice.

being also included in the circuit, all the 4. A motor having field pieces, and an elements in said circuit being preferably in armature, of an impact device carried by series relation. An arm 27 secured to the said armature, and recesses provided in said back cup 5 is used for mounting purposes. field pieces to accommodate said impact de- In I i 4 I illustrate the means I employ vice, said impact device carrying centrifuto permit moisture which may enter by way ally c ntrolled elements. of the resonator to escape without doing in- 5. In a device of the character described j y to the P It will be ed om a in combination with a resonator, of a diainspection of Fig. 1 that the cup shaped anphragm, centrifugal means for striking said nular extremity of the front plate 2 is diaphragm substantially at its center, and a larger in diameter than the outer periphery prime mover for actuating said means, said of the elements 3, 5 and 6 so that there is a pri e v r b i t d b t tiall space between these elements 3, 5 and 6 and symmetrical with respect to the axis of said the element 2. The bushings 4 are cut in diaphragm. sections as shown" in Fig. i and openings 6. In a device of the character described left between adjoining bushings so that the in combination'with a recessed diaphragm, moisture which collects between the elements of an impact device to strike said diaphragm so 2 and 3 may fall downwardly between the at the edge of said recess, said. recess extendintermediate spaces between the bushingsfi ing from the striking edge inthe direction and then out through the space between the of movement of said impact device so that elements 5 and 2. said recess accommodates said impact device I find that I can produce bymeans of the in its further movement from said striking device herein avery loud sound of particued e.

lar utility, for instance, for automobile pur- In a device of the character described, poses and the loudness and quantity of the the combination witha diaphragm, a motor, sound depends of course to some extent upon an armature for said motor, a ring carried the number and violenceof the impacts imabout said armature having a' plurality 40 parted to the diaphragm. In the embodiof recesses, and impact elements carried ment of the device herein shown the balls in said recesses and actuated by centrifugal when. farthest down in their recesses do not force when said motor is operated, whereby protrude beyond the plate 15, but; when said impact devices are adapted to strike these balls are thrown out by centrifugal said diaphragm.

force they may protrude possibly a quarter 8. In a device of the character described, of an inch, thus giving them a sufficient the combination with adiaphragm, a motor, throw. an armature for said motor, a ring carried It will of course be understood that my in-' about said armature having a plurality of vention is capable of broad application and recesses, impact elements carried in said remany variations. may be made from the .cesses and actuated:- by centrifugal force structure and arrangement herein without when said motor is'o "erated, whereby said departing from the spirit of my invention. impact devices are a apted to strike said Having however, thus described one' form diaphragm, and means for preventing said which my invention may take, whatI, claim impact devices from being driven out of as new and desire to secure by Letters Patsaid recesses. i

entis: 9. In a device of the character described,

2 1.- In a device of the character described the combination with a diaphragm, a motor,

the combination with a recessed diaphragm, an armature for said motor, a ring carried 1 a resonator therefor, means for striking said about said armature having a plurality of diaphragm at said recess a plurality of sucrecesses, balls carried in said recesses and accessive glancing blows, and a motor havin tuated by centrifugal force when said motor an armature for operating said means, sai is operated, whereby said balls are adapted means being carried directly by the body of to strike said diaphragm, and means for said armature. preventing said balls from being driven out W 2. In a device of the character described of said recemses.

10. An alarm or signal apparatus of the class specified having a sound producing medium, and a motor having a rotary armature provided with a peripherally arranged means intermediate its ends for contacting with and operating said medium.

11. An alarm or signal apparatus having a vibrating medium, and a motor having a rotary armature, the body of the armature being provided with a plurality of projecting devices arranged to successively and directly contact. with said medium.

12. An alarm or signal apparatus having a vibrating medium with a wear surface, an electric motor having pole members provided with inner grooves, and a rotary armature having projecting means and disposed between the pole members with the projecting means in the grooves, the projecting means of the armature directly contacting with the wear surface of the, vibrating medium.

13. In a device of the character described the combination with a recessed diaphragm, of an impact device to strike said diaphragm at the near edge of said recess, said recess being of a size to prevent further contact of said impact device with said diaphragm in the further movement of said device and after the impact.

14. In a device of the character described in combination with a recessed diaphragm,

of a centrifugally controlled impact dei'ice to strike said diaphragm at the edge of said recess, said recess extending from the striking edge in the direction of movement of said impact device so that said recess ac commodates said impact device in its further movement from said striking edge.

15. In a device of the character described the combination with a recesseddiaphragm, of a centrifugally controlled impact device to strike said diaphragm at the near edge of said recess, said recess being of a size to prevent further contact of said impact device with said diaphragm in the furthermovement of said device and after the impact. I

16. In a device of the character described in combination with a recessed diaphragm, of an impact device to strike said diaphragm at the edge of said recess, said recess extend ing from the striking edge in the direction of movement of said impact device so that said recess accommodates said impact de vice in its further movement from said 18. In a device of the character described in combination with a recessed diaphragm,

of a centrifugally controlled impact device to strike said diaphragm at the edge of said recess, said recess extending from the striking edge in the direction of movement of said impact device so that said recess accommodates said impact device in its further movement from said striking edge, and a motor carrying said impact device.

19. In a device of the character described the combination with a recessed diaphragm, of a centrifugally controlled impact device to strike said diaphragm at the near edge of said recess, said recess being of a size to prevent further contact of sald impact device with said diaphragm in the further movement of said device and after the impact,

. and a motor carrying said impact device.

20. An alarm or signal apparatus of the class specified having a sound produc1ng medium, and a motor havingv a rotaryarmature providedwith a peripherally arranged centrifugally controlled means 1ntermediate its ends for contacting with and operating said medium.

21. A signal apparatus of the character described having a vibrating medium, and

-an electric motor having a rotary armature provided with projectingmeans forming a PETER C. BURNS.

Witnessesy O. M. WERMIQH, HAZEL JONES. 

